A Guide for Understanding Cybersecurity Certifications

There are several different types of cybersecurity certification programmes. In general, they have two main functions. The first step is to teach new hires how to use various software and technologies. The second explanation is that technical certifications enable more experienced IT and computer networking professionals to validate and demonstrate skill mastery.

Professional certifications, like those in other computer science and information technology sectors, play an important role in cybersecurity jobs and advancement.

What’s the difference between cybersecurity certification programmes?

Professional cybersecurity certification programmes and undergraduate cybersecurity certification programmes are the two primary types of cybersecurity certification programmes available today.

The following are the differences between the two programmes:

• Professional cybersecurity certifications are built for people that are already employed in the cybersecurity sector (or closely related IT and networking fields) and want to learn about the most up-to-date tools and applications for detecting, preventing, and combating cybersecurity threats. These credentials are used to demonstrate knowledge of particular technologies. A professional certificate like CompTIA Protection Plus is a standard entry-level professional cybersecurity certificate. (The Department of Defense needs it for employment)
• Academic cybersecurity certifications are designed to give students a thorough understanding of some of the most pressing problems in the field. Harvard’s online cybersecurity qualification and the University of Maryland’s online undergraduate cybersecurity certification are two examples of academic certification programmes. These courses are usually combined with other coursework and qualification programmes to give students the skills and experience they need to get started in the rapidly growing cybersecurity industry.

Cybersecurity certification programmes for professionals

There are a variety of certifications that qualify working professionals in specific skills, which is one distinguishing feature of the cybersecurity sector. Many job listings and career positions in cybersecurity necessitate some degree of qualification, so it’s important to keep track of which certifications are in demand based on a career track or job category.
At least one credential is required for 59 percent of cybersecurity jobs.

A technical certification will also help you get your first job in the cybersecurity industry.

“So they are hiring my students even before they finish their degree. As long as they have some of the classes and some background in it, they really don’t need any hands-on experience. They do have to get a CompTIA Security Plus certification. Now that’s a DOD [Department of Defense] requirement. But they are taking my students even before they finish,”

In a recent expert interview with Cybersecurity Guide, Ken Dewey, the director of Rose State College’s cybersecurity programme, said.

Some businesses use specific data systems or network products, and as a result, their trained cybersecurity personnel may be required to be accredited. The following are some examples of common professional certifications:

• GIAC Security Essentials*
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)*
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Comp TIA Security +
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

* These courses are considered fundamental, and they may be a good place to start for those new to the cybersecurity sector.

It’s worth noting that many cybersecurity certifications, including those regarded as foundational, may involve a combination of verifiable university coursework and years of work experience. Occasionally, certifying bodies may require both. Some certifications may also charge a fee to assess eligibility.

Professional credential training is becoming more common in associate’s and bachelor’s degree cybersecurity programmes.

During a recent expert interview with Cybersecurity Guide, Hossein Sarrafzadeh, a professor of cybersecurity and department chair of the cybersecurity department at Saint Bonaventure University, said,

“We’ve embedded a lot of industry certification materials into our curriculum…Students are encouraged to pursue industry certification, and get industry certified while doing their academic work.”

Prerequisites for cybersecurity certifications

In the context of certifications, a prerequisite is something that must be met before a person is allowed to sit for a particular certification exam. The prerequisites for each qualification will differ.

Prerequisites can include requiring practitioners to have a certain amount of years of experience or requiring them to complete another qualification before attempting the one they are attempting. Another common requirement in certifications is that the professional must complete a particular course before taking the certification test. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional is an example of a credential with a prerequisite (CISSP). Individuals seeking CISSP certification must have either five years of paid, full-time experience in at least two of the eight (ISC)2 domains or four years of paid, full-time experience in at least two of the eight (ISC)2 domains and a college degree.
The CISSP credential brings a $26,000 salary bump on average.

The Certified Ethical Hacker test is another one with prerequisites (CEH). Individuals must first complete a standardised CEH training course provided by EC-Council in order to take the CEH. Those wishing to take the CEH exam without formal training must have at least two years of experience in an information security-related area and a background in information security. They must also apply an exam eligibility form and pay a nonrefundable eligibility charge.

It’s necessary to understand the difference between a requirement and a suggestion.

Some certifications have guidelines on which certifications should be obtained in what order. CompTIA, for example, recommends that professionals take the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certifications before taking the CompTIA Security+ certification, but it is not required. CompTIA would allow a professional to pass the CompTIA Security+ without first passing the others if they were secure in their skill.

Major cybersecurity certification organizations

Although there might seem to be a plethora of cybersecurity certifications, certain programmes and certificates are more widely accepted and valued than others.

This isn’t to say that less well-known certifications aren’t worthwhile. Some companies will require their workers to obtain certification in a field that is less well-known than others.

However, it is better to seek certifications offered by major organisations for practitioners who are new to the sector and just want to receive certifications that would be readily recognised by any corporation. Here are some well-known and well-respected organisations in the cybersecurity space that offer certifications:

• (ISC)2 – The International Information System Security Certification Consortiums
• EC-Councils CompTIA
• GIAC – Global Information Assurance Certifications
• ISACA

(ISC)2

Many of the major organisations listed in the preceding section offer a variety of certification options. As a cybersecurity professional, it’s important to be familiar with each of these organisations and the certifications they give. The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)2, is the body that oversees the coveted CISSP certification. The (ISC)2 bills itself as “The World’s Leading Cybersecurity Professional Organization” on their website. (ISC)2 is a not-for-profit organisation with over 140,000 certified members. While the CISSP is (ISC)2’s most well-known endorsement, they still provide other credentials. The following is a brief summary of some of the certifications available through (ISC)2:

• CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) is an acronym for Certified Information Systems Security Professional. The CISSP is one of the most sought-after and respected certifications in the cybersecurity industry, and it should be on the radar of everyone who wants to succeed in the field. The CISSP is not a beginner’s certification; rather, it is designed for those who are already accomplished cybersecurity professionals. Individuals who are already employed in the sector will benefit from the CISSP. Candidates must have a minimum of five years of paying, full-time experience to be eligible for the CISSP. At least two of the eight domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge must be protected (CBK). A one-year experience exemption can be given to individuals with a degree, reducing the minimum experience to four years.
• Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) Professionals with less than five years of experience do not rule themselves out of earning a (ISC)2 qualification. The SSCP is an excellent credential for professionals who want to advance their careers. Unlike the CISSP, the SSCP only allows one year of work experience in one or more of the SSCP Common Body of Knowledge’s seven domains (CBK). One year of experience can be deferred for practitioners with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Working toward the (ISC)2 SSCP certification is suitable for professionals in network security administrator, systems administrator, security analyst, and security administrator roles. On the (ISC)2 website, you can learn more about the SSCP certification.
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) The CCSP is another (ISC)2 qualification worth noting. The CCSP is an internationally recognised qualification that helps professionals to demonstrate their ability to develop, manage, and secure cloud-hosted data, software, and infrastructure. The demand for trained cloud security professionals is growing as more companies migrate their entire infrastructure to the cloud. The CCSP, like the CISSP, is not a credential for those who are just starting out in the profession, but rather for those who have already built a solid base. Five or more years in a paying full-time information technology job are needed for the CCSP. At least three of those years must be spent in information security, and one year must be spent in one or more of the CCSP Common Body of Knowledge’s six domains (CBK). All of the other experience criteria can be met by earning the CISSP credential. On the (ISC)2 website, you can find more detail about the CCSP.

Other (ISC)2 certifications include CAP, CSSLP, HCISPP, CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSMP, Associate of (ISC)2.

EC-Council

• The Certified Ethical Hacker certification, also known as the CEH, is the most well-known EC-Council certification. EC-Council, on the other hand, offers a variety of other certifications in addition to the CEH. Rather than concentrating on particular fields of expertise, the EC-Council focuses on specific positions and names. When a professional visits the EC-Council website to look at the qualification programmes, they will notice that the certifications resemble work titles: Licensed Penetration Tester, Certified Ethical Hacker, Security Analyst, Certified Chief Information Security Officer, and so on. This will help people who are interested in a particular career narrow down which certifications they want to seek. These certifications, on the other hand, might be too specialised for people who want to learn a wide variety of security skills. Here’s a rundown of some of the certifications that can be acquired through EC-Council:
• CEH stands for “Certified Ethical Hacker.” The EC-Council credential is by far the most well-known. Among security professionals, the CEH is well-known. Although the title of the credential includes the word “hacker,” it is not limited to those who work in offensive defence. The CEH credential is beneficial to anyone employed in cybersecurity, whether offensive or defensive. The EC-Council has two primary eligibility choices. Individuals interested in taking the CEH exam should first undergo an official EC-Council CEH training. Students who complete an official training at an Accredited Training Center, through the EC-iClass Council’s website, or at an authorised academic institution will be able to take the CEH exam without having to complete any additional eligibility requirements. Option two requires professionals with at least two years of information security related experience to pay a nonrefundable eligibility application fee in order to take the exam without going through official training. They will take the exam after their application has been accepted.
• EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECCSA) The ECSA is a good fit for those interested in pursuing a career in penetration testing. While the CEH covers a wide range of cybersecurity and offensive security topics, the ECSA is more focused on penetration testing. Penetration testing is a profession in which engineers attempt to penetrate a target network or device offensively (legally and with permission). The ECSA has prerequisites that are close to the CEH. Individuals may either take an approved EC-Council ECSA training course and be automatically eligible for the test, or they can have at least two years of experience in the cybersecurity sector and apply for eligibility. Visit the EC-Council to learn more about the ECSA certification.
• Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) After earning the CEH, ECSA, or both, professionals who want to become penetration testers (or advance their careers as penetration testers) may pursue the Licensed Penetration Tester credential. The Licensed Penetration Tester qualification is defined on the EC-Council website as their most difficult practical exam. Professionals must complete and record the entire penetration test process from start to finish in order to pass the LPT exam. The penetration test must be performed in the format taught in the ECSA programme. Though there are no pre-requisites for the LPT, EC-Council recommends that it be taken after the CEH and ECSA certifications have been completed because it builds on the information gained and applied during those exams. Visit https://cert.eccouncil.org/licensed-penetration-tester.html to learn more about the LPT certification.

Other EC-Council certifications include (but are not limited to) CSCU, ECSS, EDRP, CHFI, and CND.

CompTIA

CompTIA certifications are among the most well-known IT credentials available. CompTIA offers certifications in a variety of IT areas, including software development, computer networking, cloud computing, and information security, to name a few. CompTIA IT Fundamentals, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+ are the four main “core” certifications offered by CompTIA. Although three of the four certifications mentioned seem to be unrelated to security, they are used to lay the foundation for the information security certifications to follow.

• CompTIA Security+ is a certification offered by CompTIA. Anyone interested in a career in cybersecurity should begin with the CompTIA Security+ certification. The subjects covered in this certification include a wide range of general cybersecurity issues. Threats and attacks, architecture and design, risk management, and even cryptography will be covered on the Security+ test. Although the Security+ exam has no clear prerequisites, CompTIA recommends that professionals have their CompTIA Network+ certification and two years of experience in IT management with a focus on security.
• CompTIA CySA+ certification The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst, often referred to as the CySA+, is a higher-level cybersecurity credential than the Security+. Threat detection, vulnerability management, cyber incident response, and security architecture and toolsets are all covered in greater depth in the CySA+. Holding a Network+ qualification, a Security+ certification, or similar expertise is needed for the CySA+, as is having a minimum of 4 years of hands-on information security or related experience.

Other CompTIA certifications include (but are not limited to) CASP+, PenTest+,Linux+, Cloud+

GIAC

The Global Information Assurance Certification was established in 1999 to certify information security professionals’ abilities. Thousands of businesses and government departments, including the US National Security Agency, depend on GIAC certifications (NSA). SANS training is used to create GIAC certifications. GIAC provides certifications in a variety of areas, including cyber security, penetration testing, incident response, and forensics, among others. A few GIAC certifications are listed briefly below:

• GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) GIAC offers a number of entry-level certifications, including GSEC. It verifies that a practitioner’s understanding of information security extends beyond basic terms and definitions. The GSEC’s aim is to verify a person’s practical experience. The GSEC has no specified prerequisites, but anyone interested in taking the exam should have a basic understanding of IT security and networking.
• GIAC Mobile Device Security Analyst (GMOB) GMOB is one of GIAC’s most interesting certifications because it helps professionals to demonstrate their knowledge of mobile device protection. Both our personal and professional lives are heavily reliant on mobile devices. It’s important to have people who are trained to protect the devices that bind us. The GMOB certification verifies that those who have earned it have demonstrated knowledge of how to evaluate and manage mobile device and application protection.
• GCFA – GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst Professionals interested in pursuing a career as a forensic analyst would benefit greatly from earning the GCFA credential. The GCFA is a well-known forensic analyst qualification that covers advanced incident response and digital forensics, memory forensics, timeline analysis, anti-forensics identification, threat hunting, and APT intrusion incident response, among other subjects.

Other GIAC certifications include (but are not limited to): GCIH, GPEN, GCIA, GCFE, GNFA

ISACA

ISACA is the acronym for the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, which was formerly known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. ISACA was established in 1969 by a small group of individuals who saw a need for a centralised source of knowledge and guidance in the rapidly increasing field of computer system auditing controls, according to their website. Thousands of IT practitioners have earned ISACA certifications since then. The following are brief explanations of two ISACA certifications:

• CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) is an acronym for Certified Information Systems Auditor. The CISA certification includes information security audit monitoring, assurance, and security and is widely accepted. A CISA certification demonstrates that a practitioner is capable of assessing vulnerabilities, reporting on compliance issues, and implementing security measures within an enterprise.
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) The accredited information security manager is a step up from the CISA (CISM). This credential is for those who want to show their understanding of information security management. Independent studies rate the CISM as one of the highest paid and sought-after IT certifications, according to the ISACA website. Since this is a management-focused qualification, candidates should have prior experience managing, planning, and overseeing an organization’s information security programme.

Other ISACA certifications include CGEIT, CRISC.

Deciding which certification to pursue

With such a long list of certifications to choose from, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. This is made more complex when two certifications seem to be somewhat similar. For those seeking to start a career as a penetration tester, EC-Council offers various certifications (ECSA and LPT), but CompTIA and GIAC also offer penetration testing certifications (PenTest+ and GPEN).

Unfortunately, there is no clear response in these situations as to which qualification is the best to seek. If a professional has a specific company in mind for which they want to work, it might be helpful to see if the job descriptions for that company list one credential above another. Aside from that, the best choice is to simply study all of the organisations that offer certifications and choose the one that best fits your needs. Obtaining various certifications is also beneficial. If an individual held the ECSA, LPT, PenTest+, and GPEN certifications at the same time, it would only serve to demonstrate that they possess the necessary knowledge for a penetration tester.

Cybersecurity certification programmes for students

Academic cybersecurity certification programmes

Academic cybersecurity credential programmes vary from other types of academic training such as cybersecurity bachelor’s or master’s degrees in a few key ways.

Certifications take less time to complete — they can range from a few weeks to a year or more in length. In addition, unlike conventional undergraduate classes, they do not have as many prerequisites (like SAT or ACT scores, for example).

Academic cybersecurity certification programmes are ideal for students who have already completed a degree in a similar field and want to move careers, or for students who want to see what it’s like to prepare for a cybersecurity profession before committing to a longer academic programme.

The following are two examples of various types of cybersecurity programmes:

Havard’s Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age is a great example of an academic short course designed to help launch careers in the cybersecurity field.

Over the course of eight weeks, the course is divided into eight modules (the course description says that students are expected to dedicate roughly 10 hours weekly to the course). The aim of Harvard’s online cybersecurity certification is to walk students through the process of recognising various types of cybersecurity threats, how those threats pose a danger to businesses, and what measures businesses and organisations should take to protect themselves from cyber threats and attacks. The certification also teaches students about cybersecurity compliance and explains when and how cybercrimes should be reported to law enforcement authorities.

According to the eight modules, the course description looks like this:

• As a business concern, cybersecurity
• Detecting dangers
• Identifying critical properties and structures
• Cyber risk management leadership
• Knowing how to use the technology
• The law and cyber danger
• Answer to an incident
• Developing and putting in place a mitigation plan

The Office of the Provost for Advances in Learning at Harvard University issues a certificate at the end of the course.

The University of Maryland’s Cybersecurity Certificate programme, for example, provides comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programmes.

Both levels are planned to be completed in a year and require between 15 and 18 credit hours. The undergraduate programme is designed to help students with a bachelor’s degree in another field gain expertise in computer networking, prepare to take the necessary cybersecurity technical certification exams, and launch a career.

Additional test scores, such as the SAT or GRE, are not required, and prior academic credit that meets the program’s criteria may be transferred.

At the graduate level, the University of Maryland’s online cybersecurity certification has two tracks. Students can choose between cybersecurity strategy and policy and cybersecurity technology and information assurance, depending on their context and career interests.

Scholarships and financial assistance are available for both undergraduate and graduate online cybersecurity certificate courses.

Requirements for academic cybersecurity certification programmes

The coursework needed to complete an academic cybersecurity undergraduate degree varies greatly from one school to the next, as well as depending on the level of qualification (post-baccalaureate vs. postgraduate, for example). Most college credential programmes, on average, require 15 credit hours, which equates to one semester of full-time study.

The important thing to remember is that academic cybersecurity credential programmes are intended to assist students with a relevant background (computer science, mathematics, engineering, or relevant job experience) in obtaining advanced training and skills in cybersecurity topics. The aim of these certification programmes is to bridge the gap between previous expertise and the cybersecurity workforce’s requirements.

Here’s an example of a cybersecurity certification programme provided by Penn State, which is aimed at students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a related sector. The Information Systems Cybersecurity Certificate for Professionals programme at Penn State is structured to support participants:

• Learn the basics of cybersecurity technology, processes, and programmes.
• How to create and manage data and information systems.
• How to examine the security of digital information systems using an interdisciplinary approach.
• Conduct penetration testing to identify security flaws in the infrastructure.

A few of other considerations, which are unique to Penn State’s programme but provide an indication of what to look for while researching similar opportunities: The credits received during the post-baccalaureate cybersecurity certification can be applied to one of Penn State’s many master’s degrees in cybersecurity. Penn State has also been named a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the Department of Homeland Security.

A listing of academic cybersecurity certification programmes

This list is based on the most recent information available about academic programmes that include academic cybersecurity certification programmes. This is not, by any means, a ranking scheme. Rather, it was designed to aid prospective cybersecurity certification students in comparing and contrasting some basic details about the various programmes accessible.

When comparing programmes, many prospective students cite cost, programme availability, and online versus on-campus choices as the most important factors to consider.

Best Cybersecurity Certifications

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